Anyone who works in an office will know how difficult it is to resist any chocolate treats that are lying around. When you are in front of a computer 8 hours a day 5 days a week it is easy to fall into some bad habits. With the start of a new year now is the time to change your habits and start taking healthy office snacks to work which will help you through your day.
It is very easy to eat unhealthy food when you work in an office. What’s worse, we tend to do little exercise, (unless you cycle or walk to work!). Once you battle the long commute home sometimes the last thing you want to do is to head back out again to a zumba or bums, legs and tums gym class. Although you are sat on your bum all day you can’t resit the urge to snack as you tell yourself you need little sugary boosts to get you through your day! Here is a list of 8 healthy office snacks to boost your energy and get your year off to a good start.
1/ Carrots and Celery Sticks with Hummus
With their tasty crunch, this fantastic low carb snack gives you both that satisfying sugar boost (healthy this time) as well as your hit of essential nutrients. Carrots are a particularly good source of fibre, vitamin K, potassium and antioxidants while celery is packed full of essential vitamins (including vitamin B and C.) Involving limited preparation time the night before you will be the envy of all your colleagues!
2/ Tasty pieces of fruit for a healthy sugar boost
There are lots of fruits that are good to take with you to work as a healthy snack. Oranges, apples, bananas and kiwis are some of the easiest to eat in front of your computer. You might think that bananas have lots of calories but they are one of the healthiest fruits out there as they are full of essential nutrients. Containing vitamin B6, bananas are known for being a brain boosting food which will help when your concentration starts to waver.
3/ Natural Yogurt, red berries and oatmeal topping
This is a simple snack to prepare the night before. Simply reuse an old jam jar and fill it with natural yogurt and add a handful of berries, nuts, oatmeal and a drizzle of honey. Natural yogurt is known for improving your immune system to ward off any office germs as well as having lots of beneficial nutrients. This combined with the antioxidant powers of super-berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc) you are onto a winning combination!
4/ Celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins
This is a simple snack that is again easy to prepare the night before and place into a tub in the fridge. Try and chose a natural and, if possible, organic peanut butter which will have more nutritious benefits . This will be a great energy booster when you have hit a wall in the afternoon.
5/ Energy boosting protein balls
Protein balls are quick and easy to make and are fantastic for boosting your energy and keeping you satisfied until lunch (or dinner). Often containing coconut, peanut butter, dried fruits and even some dark chocolate there are lots of recipes to choose from to suit your taste buds. Here’s a recipe for lemon and coconut protein balls to try out!
6/ Dried fruit and nut mix
A handful of low carb nuts (almonds, pecans and macadamia nuts) with along with some dried fruits (raisins, dried banana, mango, apricot) is an excellent snack to whip out at your 11 o’clock coffee break. These nuts will keep you going through till lunch and are full of essential nutrients and vitamins. Almonds are also known for improving your skin and keeping your heart healthy.
7/ Homemade banana bread
Depending on what recipe you choose your can make a really healthy and tasty banana bread that will be the envy of all your colleagues. You can look for recipes that cut out butter by using vegetable or coconut oils or low carb margarine as well as honey or maple syrup as sweeteners and natural yogurt to make it nice and moist.
8/ Healthy flapjacks
Everyone loves a flapjack as not only are they tasty but they are excellent at boosting your energy and preventing your need to constantly snack. What’s more you can chose what you put in whether it is nuts, dried fruit or even some dark chocolate chips. Instead of lots of sugar you can use honey and low fat spreads. Regardless homemade snacks will always be healthier than industrial processed confectionery. So go on, treat yourself!
Are you ready to start taking healthier snacks to work? It’s easy and you’ll feel so much better for it!
